In a first-of-its kind consultation since the Veerappan saga began nearly two decades ago, top police officials of all four southern states and the Union Territory of Pondicherry met in Chennai on Friday, to chart out a common strategy to nab the elusive brigand.

Director General of Tamil Nadu Police R Rajagopalan said the Centre has been approached for technical assistance, including provision of night-vision binoculars.

Though Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have coordinated their efforts to hunt Veerappan through a joint Special Task Force of their police, this is the first time that all southern administrations have come together.

Apart from Rajagopalan, who was assisted by a strong team from Tamil Nadu, the Director General of Police from Karnataka and Kerala, T Madiyal and K J Joseph, respectively, also attended the meeting.

Inspectors General, Sivasankaran and J P Singh represented Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry, respectively.

Incidentally, the Centre, which has been assisting Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, time to time, by deploying the Border Security Force in the Veerappan-hunt, this time intervened more effectively after the death of abducted former Karnataka Minister H Nagappa in the brigand's captivity.

Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani dispatched Union Home Secretary N Gopalswami to Chennai to work out an effective coordination between the police forces of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which had become strained after Nagappa was abducted.

This was followed by a tripartite meeting at Delhi, which has now been enlarged to include police forces from other southern States.